Prevent sliced item from changing length?

[cheyrn]

I was baffled by an item that I didn't remember creating when I found that it expands when I drag on the right side. Finally, I figured out (I think) that it is one of the 1/4 second split items that I made to pick a piece out. Iff I drag the right side, as I did trying to move it, it recovers audio past the end of the split.

Now, I don't know what that was because I have changed it's length. Is there a way to prevent items from changing length if I accidentally drag the end of it?

[DarkStar]

Hello cheyrn and welcome to these forums. You'll find many helpful people here and a lot of useful information.

An explanation first: a split is non-destructive, effectively just setting the start and end positions relative to the source clip. So dragging the edge changes the end (or start) position and you see additional audio.

You could "Glue" that split (all by itself) to create a new audio clip and unset "Loop item source" (if it is set). Both are on the menu when you right-click the item (> Item Settings, for the second one).

Or, if it is exactly what and where you want it, you can "Lock" the item (on the same menu (right-click > Item Settings > ))

[witti]

Lock item edges can also help. Right click on the 'Locking' toolbar button...

[cheyrn]

I might not be saying what is happening clearly. Imagine it were a recording of someone speaking and the person has torettes syndrome. You want to select the parts of the speech in between ticks. So, you carefully adjust the selection and split the item.

Now, you have 10 of these items. When trying to move one of them you accidentally change it's length instead because the edge moves. So, instead of saying:

"... and that is why we have a strict set of moral standards."

It says:

"... and that is why we have a strict set of moral standards BONER PISS WANK."

This is not good.

It looks like I can still change the length of the items if I glue them individually, meaning I selected an item and selected glue items. That is whether or not loop item source is checked.

Also, if I select lock edges, I can still change the length.

I do want to be able to move the item around, I just don't want to loose what I carefully selected.

If I lock the item, I can still type in it's position. That is actually what I usually want, except it is after having dragged it around to find the right place.

There has to be something wrong. I can't imagine people living with this phenomenon.

[EricM]

Originally Posted by cheyrn

It looks like I can still change the length of the items if I glue them individually, meaning I selected an item and selected glue items. That is whether or not loop item source is checked.

...however, the content that previously existed beyond the edges
is now replaced by silence, so you can't accidentally add it back.

Also , there seems to be an issue of you having a hard time selecting
and moving item, instead of its's edges. Few things to consider:

- zoom in further before selecting and dragging an item, because
item selection area is thus bigger.
- bigger screen / more sensitive & precise mouse helps.
- watch the cursor image before clicking, it changes depending on
context .
- alternatively, go to mouse modifiers and disable move edge dragging
function, and replace it with shift-drag or some combination that is not
easily hit by accident.
- create and use keyboard shortcuts for item movement, to replace
mouse use in certain situations.

e

[cheyrn]

Oh, along with following area being replaced by silence there are notches displayed where the end is and there is a slight resistance to moving past that point.

Also, I hadn't noticed that the notches and resistance is there when it is not glued to itself also. That doesn't guard against changing things without noticing though. If there is an easy way to find if any of the items in a project are expanded past that point that could be a routine practice I could adopt, maybe.

Regarding being careful, it's not really a feasible solution since you will always make a mistake at some point.

It's like how it would not be good to have a hallway leading into a restaurant be lined with razor sharp blades jutting out of the walls. If you cut yourself while entering it would not be reasonable for the restaurant to say "you can avoid this by being more careful when entering. In the future cease any conversation you may have been involved in and focus on the task. Calmly and slowly walk into the restaurant staying in a straight line. It can help to position the heel of the left foot so that it touches the toes of the right foot, then bring the right foot forward so that the toes of the left foot touch the heel of the right foot, and so on.".

[EricM]

I'm sorry to say this, but in my 15 years experience in audio
production, you are the first one I've ever seen having such
an issue with any DAWs. To me it seems analogue to writing a text,
and being afraid that you will delete some letters by accident
and wanting a locking feature.

Simple advice: be more accurate when working, it's really not
that easy to make such mistakes, otherwise there would be lot
of posts about it.

Also as I wrote, disable default edge dragging, or replace it
with item move function, you can do this in Preferences > Mouse Modifiers.



Best,
e

[cheyrn]

Thanks for your help.

Having a mistake happen rarely or once can be worse in some cases. Just starting with Reaper I want to learn what not to do. Using reaper is making software, sort of. You don't want to introduce bugs that can have catastrophic results rarely.

If it were speech and I didn't notice that I had left obscenity in the middle of some 3 hour thing, it would be very bad. If I were making the mistake over and over I would know that I need to check that I'm not doing it.

[EricM]

Originally Posted by cheyrn

Thanks for your help.

Having a mistake happen rarely or once can be worse in some cases. Just starting with Reaper I want to learn what not to do.

Very true. Once you get comfortable with the software,
there will be less chance as you will understand most
functions and know shortcuts/mouse-zones by heart.

Also you can always commit edits by gluing multiple items
together, you can even create a copy of the original track
with separated items and hide it from view, thus backing it up.

You can freeze tracks, which renders the automation and
track FX to a new item, and all original editable data
hidden away from possible mistakes.

Mainly, don't forget to create project backups, they usually
save you completely when something goes wrong in a project.
There are options to automate this process as well.

Hope it works for you.

e

[Fex]

Edit item.
Create empty item.
Glue edited item to empty item.
Problem solved.

[witti]

Originally Posted by cheyrn

Also, if I select lock edges, I can still change the length.

This action was buggy but they fixed it in one of the latest updates.

[cheyrn]

Originally Posted by Fex

Edit item.
Create empty item.
Glue edited item to empty item.
Problem solved.

How do I create an empty item?

[timbralzoom]

Make time selection for the item length
click to desired track then main Menu / Insert / Empty Item